There is a teaching attributed to the Chinese teacher, Confucious, that says “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” If you look around you, confidence, hope, and peace are in short supply. If Confucious is correct, then education can make a major difference in a person’s life.

Here at CAIS we believe that education should include every part of a person’s life: the mental, the physical, and the spiritual aspects. No one can build a solid foundation without a concrete system of beliefs (worldview) that answers questions like: “What is truth?” “Why am I here?” “What is the meaning of life?” or “Where did I come from?”.

Every school day during the flag raising ceremony the students repeat either the Mission Statement or the Code of Honor. Both of these mention respect for ourselves, others, and God. They learn that these three types of respect form the foundation of our worldview. Self respect allows students to develop the confidence to get up and start over when they fail. It allows them to develop the confidence that their contribution is valuable and worth doing well. These beliefs and abilities to cope are predictors of success in their lives.

The confidence of the student to use and apply what they have learned gives them hope for the future because they learn that with enough study and hard work they can accomplish almost anything.

There are times, however, when they will realize that they cannot solve every problem by themselves and will need to work with others and be taught by others. This is a humbling experience and will ultimately lead to peace as we attempt to understand the world from one another's view.

I ask you to join with the CAIS family this year as we train children to have confidence in their abilities, hope for the possibilities of the future, and to show the type of respect for others, themselves, and God that will bring peace into their lives and the world.

– Mr. Dean Edwards -